The National Working Committee, NWC, of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, declared, Thursday that the party would heartily welcome the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar if he decides to join the party.

National Chairman, APGA, Dr. Victor Oye, who made the declaration while speaking with Vanguard in an exclusive interview in Abuja, said, Atiku, was free to dump his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for APGA to pursue whatever political aspirations.

Dr. Oye, who noted that the 2019 presidential hopeful was yet to approach the party over the issue, however, added that freedom of association is permitted under democracy and if the former Vice President desires to associate with APGA, he is welcome.

It would be recalled the campaign office of former Vice President recently debunked the story from a section of the media that Atiku has defected from the PDP to All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.

Atiku’s press team described the report as a malicious attempt to confuse the public about the aspiration of Atiku ahead of the forthcoming presidential primaries election of the PDP.

But the APGA National Chairman, who did not foreclose the possibility of the of Wazirin Adamawa’s defection to the party said, “He, Atiku, is free to join APGA, is he not a Nigerian? We will welcome him.

Asked if the party will give Atiku automatic ticket to vie for 2019 presidency under its platform, Oye said, “Not just joining the party, if he eventually joins, he will follow the rules of the party. “

“The party has a constitution; he will subject himself to the constitution of the party. That is all. There is no two ways about it. But we will receive him 1,000% if he decided to come. He is a Nigerian. He doesn’t have any criminal records.”